Commercial Information Circular

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref. : EIC 230/2

4 July 2023

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 450/2023

European Union (EU)* : Machinery Regulation

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on machinery which repeals Directive 2006/42/EC and Council Directive 73/361/EEC. The Regulation was published on 29 June 2023 and is available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32023R1230.

2.The Regulation lays down health and safety requirements for the design and construction of machinery, related products and partly completed machinery to be made available on the EU market or put into service. It covers products which are new to the EU market, and are either new products made by a manufacturer established in the EU or products, whether new or second-hand, imported from a third country.

3.Under the regulation, economic operators shall comply with their respective obligations when placing machinery or a related product on the market or putting it into service. For instance, manufacturers shall ensure that it has been designed and constructed in accordance with the essential health and safety requirements, draw up technical documentation and carry out relevant conformity assessment procedure, etc. Economic operators shall also ensure that the product is accompanied by the instructions for use and safety information required, which may be provided in a paper or digital format. The Regulation will enter into force on 19 July 2023 and shall apply from 14 January 2027, except that certain Articles will apply earlier by phases (among which a few articles to take effect from 13 July 2023).

4.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Tracy MAK)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU comprises of 27 member countries, namely, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.